Biological Basis for the Formation of Suicidal Behavior: A Review

Abstract

The article addresses one of the pivotal issues in the formation of suicidal behavior, namely the function of central and peripheral neurotransmitter systems and the mechanisms of neuroendocrine regulation. This article presents the relationship between alterations in lipid metabolism and suicidal behavior, as well as candidate genes of the serotonergic system involved in suicidal behavior. The present study is a review of a number of published completed papers by systematically searching original articles in English in the following electronic databases: PubMed, SCOPUS, Mendeley, Google Scholar, and ScienceDirect between 2013 and 2023. A total of 126 sources were used in the scientific literature review, covering findings from a range of disciplines, including biology, neurochemistry, anatomy, neurohormones, and serotonergic system candidate genes relevant to suicidal behavior. The identification of neurobiological indicators of suicidality is of significant importance for the understanding of the pathophysiology of suicidality and for the search for peripheral markers that could be utilized to clarify risk, prediction, and, ideally, suicide prevention. The findings of this review underscore the intricate biological underpinnings of suicidal behavior, underscoring that suicidality is not merely a psychological or social phenomenon but rather a complex and deeply rooted system of neurobiological processes. The review suggests that biological markers should be integrated with existing psychological assessments to create a multidimensional profile of suicide risk.